KEYS ‘NO KINGS’ EVENTS REMAIN PEACEFUL, BUT GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE PROMPTS ONLINE THREATS

The “No Kings” protests that occurred on June 14 in 2,100 U.S. cities drew an estimated 5 million people, according to organizers from the nonprofit Indivisible and other pro-democracy coalitions.

Three such events occurred locally, in Key West, Marathon and the Upper Keys. 

The peaceful protests were planned as a “national day of peaceful mobilization to defend democracy, reject authoritarian overreach, and stand up for their communities,” organizers said.

DeSantis’ message prompts online threats

As of June 13, about 80 “No Kings” events had been planned throughout Florida, including the three in the Keys.

Event organizers strictly prohibited violence and vandalism, and offered de-escalation training to local organizers in anticipation of pro-Trump, anti-protesters causing disturbances. 

But three days before the protests, Gov. Ron DeSantis made comments that seemed to incite online threats of violence against peaceful demonstrators. 

During a podcast interview with Dave Rubin on June 11, DeSantis warned Floridians that any acts of violence or vandalism would lead to arrest. He was then asked about protesters taking over a street without a permit. 

“DeSantis told Rubin that people in their cars have a right to hit protesters because otherwise they might become a ‘sitting duck’ who the ‘mob’ could drag out of their car,” according to a June 12 Newsweek article. “If you’re driving on one of those streets and a mob comes and surrounds your vehicle, and threatens you, you have a right to flee for your safety. And so if you drive off and you hit one of these people, that’s their fault for impinging on you,” DeSantis told the podcast host.

The next day, a Jacksonville man was arrested for posting an online threat, rife with misspellings, that said, “Look as a Jacksonville resident if I see any large gatherings to protest ICE I’m going to grab my buddies tow truck and plow through every ignant, un-american swine I see protesting the deportation of ILLEGAL immigrants. Since you believe in them so much, why don’t you go with.”

Keys not immune from online threats 

Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay was alerted on June 13 to a Facebook post by former City of Marathon employee Jim Griffith, who wrote, in response to a comment about the sheriff and protesters, “He’s going to stand with them, watch. All my Keys peeps, make sure to put a good coat of wax on the front of your vehicles. Helps people slide off and protects your paint from blood spatter.”

Ramsay alerted his staff and learned that Griffith now lives in West Palm Beach, but thanked people for reporting the post.

A current Marathon City Council member, Kenny Matlock, posted a photo of a military vehicle at a gas station with the caption “fueling up for protest season.”

Asked by the Weekly about the photo, Matlock said his post was in response to DeSantis’ comments, that he did not bring the vehicle to the protest or drive by where it was happening, and that “people need to learn to take a joke.”

“If my photo offends you, I fully support your right to be offended,” he said.

“I’m not sure the governor’s message was the right message,” Ramsay told the Keys Weekly on June 13. 

Ramsay said he and his deputies will support people’s right to free speech, no matter what signs they’re holding and no matter what they’re shouting through a bullhorn.

“This is one of the best communities anywhere and such events have always been peaceful and respectful. People should not be influenced or pressed by online rhetoric,” he added.

The Keys “No Kings” events were peaceful, with the Key West protest drawing an estimated 800 to 1,200 people. The other two events drew crowds of 100 to 300 people.